ARE WE RAISING AN OVER-DEPENDENT GENERATION?
An “over dependent generation” -a demographic cohort, often younger individuals, who rely heavily on others such as their parents for support and decision-making rather than taking personal responsibility. This dependence can manifest in various ways, including emotional reliance and an inability to cope with challenges independently.
Some argue that factors such as helicopter parenting bring on to this overdependence. Critics often express concerns about the long-term consequences of such reliance, including hindering personal growth, delaying maturity, and creating a burden on support systems.
Most parents believe making decisions for their children or ‘fighting their fights’ will shield them from difficulties but there comes a time when parents are not present and these children face real life challenges, they will become helpless!!!
As the proverb goes, “Charity begins at home,”- a person’s first responsibility is for the needs of their own family and friends. This is how we teach children to love, respect, accept and tolerate and unite people in their immediate surrounding. Teaching children important life skills can bring on a generation that is independent, resilient and also one that challenges unethical norms of society.
How can parents raise responsible and independent children?
Make sure your children know God before anything. Salvation is not hereditary; that you are godly or highly spiritual is not a guarantee that your children are saved. You must consciously and deliberately lead them to God so that they grow up as spiritually grounded individuals.
Empower your children to uphold your family values wherever they are. But before then, make sure that your family values are credible, empowering, socially and morally beneficial. As parents, WALK THE TALK because children learn more by observing and not hearing; so let your words match your actions.
Give your children age-appropriate domestic tasks, even if you have a thousand and one domestic servants at home. It is sheer ignorance to think that doing everything for your children is a mark of honor or a way of bequeathing royalty on them.
Teach your children to dress well all the time, especially when they are spending time with another family. You probably allow your daughters to dress in bum shots and your sons to walk about with their chest bare in your home, but they may not be safe if they do so in another place. You may not know where a predator would lie in wait for a child.
Teach your children to control their appetite and learn to turn down certain offers, even when such offers come from people they know. And at home, it is not compulsory that they must taste everything they see someone eating. This will help them to take their eyes away from certain things when they are in other people’s home.
Lastly, always remind your children that they are the window through which the world sees you. If your children’s behavior outside is bad, the general consensus is that they lack home training. And since children are not meant to give themselves home training, it means that you failed as a parent.
